Blow-out preventer attachment



Dec. 20, 1932. J H, N c s 'ET AL 1,891,685

BLOW-OUT PREVENTER ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 10. 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I mMIMI E lnventorJ 7/56 17511 V was Z7677 ZZZwa M592 By J4 Dec. 20, 1932.S ET A 1,891,685

BLOW-OUT PREYENTER ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 10. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/KW32 34 F 5 Inventors 1%? Envy 1V7 0Z5 F/PQV EJwaT f aszer A Home y Dec.20, 1932. v J. H. NICKS ET AL w 1,891,685

BLOW-OUT PREVENTER ATTACHMENT Filed Dec.- 10. 1950 I 3 Sheets-Shet 5- AHome y -Patented '15... 2o, 1932 i J 1,891,685

UNITED STATES' PA EN OFFICE Application iiledDecember 10, 1930. SerialNo. 501,420.

This invention relates generally to an imto screw-thread at into thepreventer strucprovement in blow out preventer attachture 5 as shown.The adapter is formed with ments, adapted to lock the rams of a standacollar 11 which has a tapered screw threadard blow out preventerhead. Ied bore 12 for receiving the tapered nipple 13 p The object of thisinvention is to provide on the associated end of the locking housing 55a device of this kind, whereby the rams may 14 of our attachment.Referring to Figures be quickly actuated and locked in well pres- 5 and6, it will be seen that the housing 14 sure resisting position duringthe blow out consists of a cylindrical body comprising a of the well,wherebyto eliminate the slow and plain outer end 15' an inner end 16 onwhich dangerous process of manual manipulation, the tapered nipple 13 isformed. The ends 60 and to provide the further advantages which 15 and16 are connected by upper and lower will be recognized herein.longitudinal members 17 and 18 having the i This and other objects andadvantages, the cross section disclosed in Figure 7. The end nature ofthe invention, and its composition 15 "has a longitudinal bore 19 andthe end porand arrangement and combination of parts tion 16 has alongitudinal bore 20 in alignwill be readily understood by any oneacment with the bore 19.' Also in alignment qnainted with the art to whih this invention with the bore 20 is an enlarged'recess 21 open relatesupon consulting the following descriping inwardly of the end portion 16;The stem tion of the drawings, in which 22 has an annular groove 23 atits inward end Figure 1 is a general side elevational view 'forrotatable connection with the ram 24. showin an embodiment of ourinvention as{ From the point indicated at 23 to an inter-' sociate withthe blowout preventer strucmediate portion of the stem, it is smooth toture. r enable it to slide in the bore .20 in a snug Figure 2 is apartial longitudinal vertical manner and to be properly packed by aseries sectional view through Figure 1. of packing rings 25 maintainedin proper ad- Figure 3 is a similar view showing the ram justment by anadjusting nut 26 screw threadin the inward, blow out preventingposition. ed as at 27 in the recess 21. Fromsaid inter- Figure 4 is aview similar to Figure 3 mediate point to the outer end portion of theshowing the ram locked in said position. a V stem 22 it is screwthreaded as at 28, and the cal. sectional view through one of thememportion 28 is formed to receive a wrench or bers of our improvedattachment disclosing crank, or other operating lever, as at 29. The

the disposition of parts and their construcbore 19 in the outer end ofthe housing 14 is tion. sufficiently large to permit free sliding ofaFigure 6 is a detailed view of the housing. lock sleeve designated 30Which i r w of the attachment. Y threadedlymounted on the screw threadedFigure 7 is atransverse vertical sectional portion 28 of the stem 22.The lock nut sleeve view taken approximately on the "line 7-7 isexternally screw threaded at 31 to provide 40 of Figure 6. for themounting thereon of a lock nut 32.

Referring in detail to the drawings the nu The lock nut 32 is placed onthe sleeve 30 outmeral 5 designates generally the well head wardly ofthe outer end portion 15 of the .b1 wur preventerstructure, the numeral6" housing 14. On the inner. end of the sleeve the tool projectingthrough the said struc- 30 disposed within the housing is an annularture. the numeral 7 the pipe system for-conshoulder 33 adapted to beabutt'ed against the ducting the fluid from an associated pump innerface of the end portion 15 as will subfor actuating therams'of theblOWfOHtPIG- sequently be described. It should be noted venter. Y i

that the bore 19 is not threaded, but is smooth. The numeral 8designates generally-one of In Figure 2 is shown the completely withtheattachments of the invention which com-' drawn position of the ram 24,whereas in prises the annular adapter 9 which is adapted Figure 3 isshown the fully inward position Figure 5 is an enlargedlongitudinalverti- Outer extremity beyond the screw threaded '80 of thesaid ram. Figure 4 discloses the ram in the said fully inwardposition,-and in addition the locking sleeve 30 with its shoulder 33abutted against the inner face of the end portion of the housing, andthe lock nut 32 forcibly engaged against the outer face of the saidportion 15 of the housing, so that the locking sleeve is locked againstmovement in either direction. Since the stem 22 by being threaded in thelocking sleeve is positively prevented from movement in either directionrelative to the locking sleeve, the consequence is that the ram 24 isthen se curely locked in the full inward position. Under workingconditions a slush pump is used to force fluid under pressure throughthe pipes and the duct 34, against the back of the ram in the preventerhousing, so that with the locking sleeve and the lock nut in thepositions shown in Figures 2 and 3, the ram 24 carrying the stem 22moves inwardly through the bores 19 and 20. When the ram has in thismanner been moved to its extreme inward position, disclosed in Figures 3and 4, the locking sleeve, easily accessible for manipulation because ofthe open formation of the housing 8, the shoulder 33 of the lockingsleeve being formed hexagonal or in any other suitable form, may bequickly reached and gripped by a suitable tool and rotated upon the steminto forcible engagement with the inner face of the end portion 15 ofthe housing, whereupon the lock nut 32 is rotated on the said lockingsleeve from the position shown in dotted lines at 32a in Figure 4 to thelocking position in forcible engagement with the outer face of theportion 15 of the housing 14. With this adjustment of the parts of ourappurtenance, the ram is positively and forcibly locked againstdisplacement from its fully inward position, and the tool 6 iseffectively prevented from being blown out of the well.

. It will be observed'that the comparatively few and easy operationsrequired for manipulating the rams as described above en-- able applyingand locking the rams so quickly that the dangers and losses consequentupon a slow and ineffective manipulation of the rams are prevented andthe sand, oil, and water forced from the well during a blow are notgiven a chance to blow out the packings of the rams and render the blowout preventer useless. It is believed also to be obvious that our deviceis a simple one, cheap to manufacture and extraordinarily effective andrugged and otherwise admirably adapted for the purposes for which it isdesigned.

It is to be definitely understood that we do not desire to limit theapplication of this invention to the particular modification set outherein to illustrate the principles thereof, and any change or changesmay be made in material, structure, or combination of the lockingsleeve, said locking sleeve and said lock nut adapted to engage portionsof the housing to lock the stem against lon tudinal movement in thehousing and lock t 0 ram in its osition.

2. A 100 ing structure of the type described for a blow out preventercomprising a housing mountable on the preventer, a ram stem connected tothe ram of the preventer and slidable in the housing, fluid pressuremeans for initially actuating said ram, and means for locking said ramagainst return movement comprising alocking sleeve screw threaded on theouter end portion of the sleeve having a shoulder for abutting an innerportion of the housing, a-lock nut on said sleeve for abutting an outerportion of the housing for locking said sleeve against movement. 1

3. An attachment for a blow-out preventer head, comprising a housingadapted to be mounted thereon, a stem slidable in the housing androtatably connected with a ram of the preventer head, rotatable andslidable means adapted to be moved into a position in which itcooperates with a portion of the housing and the stem whereby the stemcan be moved longitudinally only by rotating 1t.

4. An attachment for a blow-out preventer head, comprising a housing adated to be mounted thereon, a stem slida 10 in the housing and rotatablyconnected with'a ram of the preventer head, rotatable and slidable meansadapted to be moved into a position in which it cooperates with aportion of the housing and the stem whereby the stem can be movedlongitudinally only by rotating t, said means being capable of beinginitially positioned with respect to the housing so as not to preventsliding and rotary movement of the stem, said means being capable ofbeing subsequently moved into such a relation with the housing that thestem is locked against sliding and rotary movement and can then be movedlongitudinally only by rotating 1t.

5. An attachment for a blow-out preventer head, comprising a housingadapted to be mounted thereon, a stem slidable in the housing androtatably connected with a ram of the preventer head, slidable androtatable means adapted to be moved into a position in which itcooperates with a portion of the housing and the stem whereby the stemcan be moved longitudinally only by rotating it, said means beingcapable of being initially positioned with respect to the housing so asnot to prevent sliding and rotary movement of the stem, said means beingcapable of being subsequently moved into such a relation with thehousing that the stem is locked against slidin' and rotary movement andcan then be move longitudinally only by rotating it, said means beingalso capable of being arranged with respect to the stem and the housingso that the stem is permitted free rotary movement, while permittedlongitudinal sliding movement in one direction only.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

JOE HENRY NICKS. ELERY EDWARD MOSHER.

